Learning from our inner kid
By Mable Snow
Have you ever sat and just watch kids play and interact together ? They pour water into dug out holes to make mud puddles or even better , mud pies . They stay excited about each one being made as if it were the first they had ever seen . Oh what fun they have !
So much can be learned about living a full and open life from kids . Especially from the kid you know best , you . Every moment you spent as a child playing creatively , fighting and making-up with your friends can benefit you as an adult in many transformational ways .
Don ’ t you sometimes wish you could be a kid again ? Well , good news for you ; you can ! You may have to be an adult now , but your inner child is still alive and well within you , and it has a lot of wisdom to share . Below are five habits , compliments from the kid inside , that will change your life in wonderful ways .
1 . BE FAST TO FORGIVE My best friend and I growing up fought a lot but yet we played together constantly . That ’ s because we got over those fights quickly and kept on playing together . Kids move on from conflict easily . They don ’ t tend to hold grudges and need long apologies or repeated apologies . Without being conscious of it , they are forgiving all the time and they forgive fast . So much freedom lives in forgiveness and being quick to forgive . Are you holding grudges ? Struggling with forgiveness ? If you are , remember yourself as a child — all those fights , and all the quick make ups . It is in you to quickly forgive and move on .
2 . LET GO . HAVE FUN No one has more fun than kids . Sure , they don ’ t have the pressures and responsibilities of being an adult but even so , kids all over the world — no matter their circumstances — are always ready to have fun and it doesn ’ t take much . With a stick . With a ball . With a wall . All they need is a desire to play and have a good time . With most everything in life , fun is a choice . Are you making enough time for fun in your life ?
3 . BE CREATIVE Kids don ’ t over think their creativity . They just express it , and receive a lot of joy in doing so . How many imaginary situations did you put your toy cars and dolls through as a kid ? How much coloring did you do , inside and outside of the lines ? Children don ’ t think and worry about being judged the way adults tend to do . Kids just follow their instincts and create whatever comes to their minds and hearts . When and how are you expressing your creativity ?
4 . DON ’ T TAKE “ NO ” FOR AN ANSWER When kids really , really want something , they don ’ t ever shut up about it ! Did you take no for an answer when you really wanted something growing up ? There ’ s a lot to be said for pursuing a yes especially where your dreams and desires are concerned . Don ’ t be so quick to settle for a no . Don ’ t back down from going after your passions . As a kid , that passion might have been your favorite candy bar . Now , it ’ s likely something much more worthwhile . Use the relentlessness of your inner child to pursue the yes in your life .
5 . TELL THE TRUTH
Children tend to say what they think , and without judgment most of the time . They are not yet programmed to hide their feelings and hint around their thoughts . Kids are honest and speak up . As adults , we could be more truthful too , never to intentionally hurt someone ’ s feelings , but to connect with people in a deeper way . What are you holding back ? How can you approach your life , and your relationships , more honestly ?
Kids can be awesome and adults too , especially those who allow themself to be kid at heart . All of the ways you were as a child are still within you and are still there for you to call upon whenever you want . Your inner child just needs an invitation from your inner adult to come out and play . And play it will , leading you to a happier , more meaningful life along the way .
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH / APRIL 2017
19